Behold Nigeria’s New Chief Of Army Staff
Major General Farouk Yahaya has emerged as the new Chief of Army Staff (COAS), following the death of the immediate occupant, Lieutenant Ibrahim Attahiru, in an plane crash in Kaduna, last week.
Yahaya emerged as the new COAS, following the approval of his appointment by the Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari, today.
The appointment of Major General Yahaya was contained in a press release by the acting Director of Defence Information, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu.
Prior to his appointment, Major General Yahaya was the General Officer Commanding 1 Division of the Nigerian Army and the incumbent Theatre Commander of the Counter terrorism Counter Insurgency military outfit in the North East, codenamed Operation HADIN KAI.
A member of the Regular Combatant Course 37, Yahaya is the 22nd Chief of Army Staff in the country and the third to be so appointed by the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration.
He had also served as Military Secretary (MS) Army at Army headquarters in Abuja before his appointment as GOC 1 division in Kaduna and was, at one time, the Commander of 4 Brigade Headquarters of the Nigerian Army.
The new Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Major General Farouk Yahaya, was born on 5 January 1966 in Sifawa, Bodinga Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
Major General Yahaya who is a member of the 37 Regular Course of the prestigious Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), started his cadet training on 27 September 1985 and was commissioned into the Nigerian Army Infantry Corps on 22 September 1990.
He has held several appointments including Staff, Instructional and Command and notable among the appointments held by the new COAS are Garrison Commander Headquarters Guards Brigade and Directing Staff at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College (AFCSC).
Others included Deputy Director Army Headquarters Department of Military Secretary, Deputy Director Army Research and Development and the Chief of Staff, Headquarters Joint Task Force Operation Pulo Shield.
He also served as the Principal General Staff Officer (PGSO) to the Honourable Minister of Defence; the Commander, Headquarters 4 Brigade and 29 Task Force Brigade (Operation Zaman Lafiya).
Major General was also Director Manpower at the Army Headquarters, Military Secretary, Army Headquarters and General Officer Commanding (GOC) 1 Division of the Nigerian Army.
Until his appointment as the COAS, Maj Gen Faruk Yahaya was the Theatre Commander Operation HADIN KAI, responsible for Counter Terrorism and Counter Insurgency operations in North East Nigeria.
The new COAS is a holder of several honours and awards, including Forces Service Star, Meritorious Service Star, Distinguished Service Star, Grand Service Star, Passed Staff Course (Dagger), National Defence Course (Chile).
His other honours and awards include Economic Community of West Africa State Monitoring Group Medal, Command Medal, Field Command Medal, General Operations Medal, Silver Jubilee Medal and Golden Jubilee Medal. He is happily married and blessed with children.
